Objectives of the Foundation

Objectives

1.- Protection of the Night Sky

One of the main objectives of the Foundation – contained in the “La Palma Declaration” – is the protection and conservation of the night skies, as an important scientific, cultural, environmental and tourist resource.

It is important to spread the idea of smart lighting among the public and to promote local, national and international initiatives to prevent light pollution, thereby enabling energy savings and mitigating the effects of climate change.

2.- Cultural dissemination of astronomy

Another of the aims of the Starlight Foundation is innovative astronomical outreach, linking it to society through tourist activities related to the Stars, building a network of Starlight Rural Houses and Hotels, promoting Stellariums where astronomical festivals and activities can be organized, creating astrophotography contests, etc. It aims to disseminate the science, but in a fun way, creating leisure spaces, for example, in locations that have achieved or are working towards certification as a Starlight Tourist Destination.

To achieve these goals, it is also important to offer specialized training courses run by those people (Astronomical Monitors and Starlight Guides) who will serve as a link with the population.

3.- Star Tourism

Another objective is to promote scientific tourism and, more specifically, star tourism as an emerging, sustainable, high-quality segment. To this end, the Foundation has a certification system by which those places where the sky quality and infrastructure allow this type of activity are accredited as Starlight Tourist Destinations. The Foundation also awards the status of Starlight Reserve to those places that maintain the natural lighting conditions and clarity of the night sky intact, incorporating the starscape into their existing cultural and natural assets.

4.- Intelligent lighting and energy saving

The Foundation also strives to implement a culture of rational lighting, which allows energy conservation, the development of star tourism in different parts of the planet and the protection of many species that need a dark sky for their conservation.